The Chicago Bulls unleash a flurry of deals, sending Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips to Minnesota for young talent and a treasure trove of second-round picks.
As league insiders believe, the Chicago Bulls will not stand still before the trade deadline.
The Chicago Bulls traded Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski first reported.
In return, Chicago received guard Rob Dillingham and forward Leonard Miller, along with four second-round picks, continuing the Bulls' aggressive selloff ahead of the February 5 trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET.
Dosunmu was experiencing his best NBA season before the trade, averaging 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists across 45 games (10 starts) while shooting 45.1% from three with the Bulls. The hometown product from Chicago had emerged as one of the Bulls' most valuable trade assets as the franchise positioned itself as the league's biggest seller at the deadline.
Feb 3, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) dribbles the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn ImagesHis departure marks the end of a four-year tenure with the team that drafted him 38th overall in 2021. After developing into a reliable two-way contributor and fan favorite, Dosunmu had finally elevated his game to near-starter level production this season, making his trade bittersweet for Bulls fans who watched him grow.
With the Dosunmu deal, Chicago has now cleared a majority of its expiring-contract ladder over the past two days. Only Zach Collins — who's suffering from a right toe injury and could miss the remainder of the season — remains on the roster under an expiring deal.
The Bulls' recent series of moves has dramatically reshaped the roster, leaving only Matas Buzelis and Patrick Williams as familiar Bulls’ faces on the team. Including Dillingham, Chicago piles up its backcourt after acquiring Anfernee Simons by trading Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics and receiving Mike Conley Jr. and Jaden Ivey through a three-team trade earlier on Tuesday. The Bulls also swapped Coby White and newly acquired Conley for Colin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks with the Charlotte Hornets, before renewing Mac McClung's contract into a two-way deal, as reported Thursday.
Perhaps most notably, the Bulls have accumulated 14 second-round picks total, with nine acquired in recent deadline trades alone. The strategy behind this second-round stockpile remains unclear, but it's reasonable to envision these assets forming a significant portion of Chicago's future — whether the front office uses them in the draft or packages them as trade ammunition.
The Dosunmu trade represents another step in what appears to be a full-scale reset. After years of mediocrity, the Bulls are finally committing to a new direction. However, whether that means building around young guards or using these pieces for another blockbuster remains to be seen.
For now, Chicago's backcourt is overflowing with talent and potential, while adding Guerschon Yabusele to its frontcourt, which was thin with Jalen Smith, Collins and Lachlan Olbrich. The Bulls and Billy Donovan will have to spend time pondering a new roster and immediately gear up for the second half of the season.